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Thursday, June 26, 2014

Belgium: Comedian makes Holocaust jokes on national TV

Belgian diplomat Jean Deboutte has lodged a complain against TV broadcaster VIER after comedian Alex Agnew made Holocaust jokes on the air. On the "Comedy Kings" show aired May 22 Agnew joked about gassing Jews. This is not the first time Agnew is accused of antisemitism.

Deboutte is a former ambassador and chairman of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research. He has been joined by other diplomats and historians.

Michael Freilich, editor of Jewish magazine Joods Actueel, points out that the initiative is being led by non-Jews. He says that when the Jewish community complained in the past about banalizing the Holocaust, they were accused of being too sensitive.